• The Bible Studies for Life lesson for Nov. 8 focuses on Daniel 4:28-35.
As the holiday season approaches, people will make travel plans. Air travel is a popular mode of travel, but not everyone likes it. Many can’t accept the loss of control air travel brings, especially when comes to arrival times.
Some airports contain numerous runways over vast acreage. The result means an airplane may land on one side of the airport and then have to taxi all the way to the other side to get to its gate. Sometimes it seems the airlines fly you halfway to your destination, then drive the rest.
My point is you know where you were heading, but you just aren’t sure when you will get there. Humility is that way. You may have it as a life goal, but you can’t be sure when you’ve arrived.
Pride is a sin that places self over others (Daniel 4:28-30)
Daniel 4 begins with Nebuchadnezzar giving praise to God. The reader is presented with an immediate question. Why is the king of Babylon praising God?
As with Daniel 2, a dream becomes the focus for the action in chapter 4. Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, so Daniel was summoned to interpret it. He had bad news for the king—news so bad it alarmed even Daniel. His interpretation warned the king about his pride. It had gone well past the point of positive self-esteem and entered into the arena of sinful arrogance.
Everything seemed fine for months, but after a year, Daniel’s interpretation of the king’s dream came to pass. Perhaps the king suppressed his pride during the 12 months. Whatever the reason for the apparent delay in judgment, God brought about his punishment upon Nebuchadnezzar.
Of all of the people in the ancient Near East during this time, Nebuchadnezzar had the most reason to boast. He possessed great wealth, he was an accomplished builder, he was skilled in leading an army, and he became a believer in his own self-sufficiency.
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There is a certain allure to self-sufficiency, a sense of accomplishment. Our society values those who can take care of themselves, the independent, the ones who have pulled themselves out of dire circumstances and achieved success.
But self-sufficiency is a lie, for no one is able to do anything without God. Self-sufficiency leads to pride. It leads to ignoring God. It leads to sin. For this reason, today’s emphasis on a positive self-esteem must be mitigated with the knowledge that too much of a good thing can lead to disaster. Just ask Nebuchadnezzar.
Humble yourself or God will humble you (Daniel 4:31-33)
A voice from heaven spoke the word of judgment to Nebuchadnezzar. He was struck with insanity, which caused him to act like various animals. No longer could he live among his people. Certainly, he no longer could carry out the tasks of leading the Babylonian empire. What once had been the source of pride became the source of shame.
The words of the sages came true for Nebuchadnezzar. “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).
Too often, those in a similar situation as Nebuchadnezzar endure judgmental glares and demeaning attitudes. Instead, as Christians, we should look upon these individuals with compassion. Our own sins held no less pride and arrogance. We all, at one time or another, committed the sin of Nebuchadnezzar. We needed prayer, support and healing. Most of all, we needed someone to point us back to God. That’s the task of the Great Commission—to point others in need to Jesus.
God restores us as we humble ourselves before him (Daniel 4:34-35)
How was Nebuchadnezzar able to look to God in heaven in the midst of his insanity? Scripture does not say. At the right time, he lifted his eyes in a moment of clarity and acknowledged God who restored his sanity.
Praise flowed from the king’s lips. He acknowledged God as the one who directed all life on earth. Nebuchadnezzar learned humility—a good lesson learned a hard way. He couldn’t see how high he had come until he was brought down to the depths. As God brought him back up, he saw everything accomplished in his life came from God.
As for air travel, you may not know the moment you’ll arrive at the gate, but you at least know when you’re close. The same is true with humility. You may never be able to say, “Now, I’m humble,” but at least you can determine whether or not you’re headed in the right direction.
Questions
1. How do you know if you’re humble or not? How do you humble yourself?
Look at your accomplishments. What do you see? Great works? Your own works? God’s works?
2. In Numbers 12:3, Moses is described as the most humble man in the world. How do you think he achieved that level of humility?
3. What role do your own efforts play in pursuing humility? Note Paul’s words in Romans 12:3: “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”
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